Hello lovelies! My name is Taralyn and I am excited to share a few of my favorite things with you! As the mama of Lily (5), Cortland (3), and Kyler (1), I wear many different shoes. There are my laced-up tennies for Fly Ladying it up, slippers for kicking back and relaxing, running shoes for 5K training, and heels for date night. My blog Keep Moving Forward With Me follows my footsteps as I make progress in all areas of my life. I’d love to have you join me on Pinterest or Facebook!

I am always on the lookout for products that make my life easier as a woman, wife, mom, and blogger. It’s hard to narrow the list down to a few of my favorite things, but here it goes!

Gift Ideas for Women:

As a mom of busy littles, a 3-minute shower may be the longest me-time of the day. And even then those cute little fingers make their way under the door! I’ve been experimenting with various natural soaps to see which ones give me the most “ahhhhhh” factor. Last year I discovered the Ancient Seas Spa Bar by Sego Lily Soaps and I’ve never looked back. It has a calming and balanced aroma that features notes of lemongrass and black current with hints of patchouli, sugar cane and lime. Sounds (and smells) divine, right? Love that it is locally made – gotta support small businesses! Five dollars a bar and worth every pretty penny for how it makes my skin feel.

I need an arsenal of kitchen gadgets to keep my little family fed and happy! My husband bought me a Nesco FD-75A 700-Watt Food Dehydrator for Mother’s Day and I love it! I dry fruits and fruit roll-ups, while my husband makes the best beef jerky. Easy to use and makes the house smell pretty yummy. Clean up is a breeze as well! A bit of an investment at about $60, but I can sleep happy knowing all the ingredients in my baby’s fruit roll-ups.

It’s unfortunate that when you are growing your third baby that you don’t get to grow a third arm for yourself as well. That’s where the Moby Wrap comes in handy! I have a sling and baby carrier for certain occasions, but I use my Moby Wrap the most. Boy howdy have I loved my babies snuggled up next to me while grocery shopping, hiking, and even working around the house. On Amazon.com, Moby Wraps are only $48 – all those extra snuggles with your baby are no extra charge!

Although I am a Utah girl, oh how I love my summer flats like these ones from Capelli New York on Zulily. I can never have enough summer flats! In fact, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of some TOMs this week. Even as a child I was never much a fan of tying shoes and now more than ever I am fan of quick, easy, and cute – especially with a $12 price tag like the shoes below! For that price I can splurge on multiple pairs in different colors.

Speaking of quick and easy, this mama craves Coconutty Macaroon Cookie Mix and the Soft Ginger Molasses Cookie Mix by Shirley J. I whipped up the Coconutty Macaroons for Easter and they were a hit with my gourmet-loving in-laws. Little did they know, the cookies came from a mix that I was able to quickly pop in the oven. Are you drooling yet? I am – time to make another stop over at Shirley J’s! The mixes are $9.95 and did I mention that many of the mixes are just add water?

Every mom needs a date night! I love the digital date kits from Definition of Love.com, especially the Passport to Paris Digital Date Kit. Priced inexpensively at $1.99 – the digital kits are perfect for the couple on a budget and give ideas for dates in and out of the home. The printable invites and graphics are super cute and fun. The kits are 14+ pages and take a lot of the work out of planning date night and romance all month long.

A list of my favorite things has to include an item that makes organization in our small apartment easier! Last month I won the Martha Stewart Wall Manager from Leanne at Organize Yourself Now. I can’t wait for my husband to put it together for me and get it hanging on the wall. It’s going to be the perfect mail/organizational center in my kitchen.

Thanks for checking out my favorite things!

What are your favorite must-have items?

What is on your wish list for Mother’s Day?

~ Taralyn

For gift ideas for everyone on your list, check out the Gift Ideas tab and be sure to pin Gift Idea Central, to keep the whole collection in one place.

Mariel (mahr-eeee-elle) is a mother to seven, wife to one. Loves homeschooling, golfing, cupcakes, traveling, cuddling, non-fiction books, gardening, James Taylor, and family time. This is her blog. Enjoy!

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